American seeks Curitiba and Porto Alegre frequencies

American Airlines has applied for seven US-Brazil frequencies for new service between Miami and Curitiba and Porto Alegre, just a week after it received approval for a new Sao Paulo flight.

The Fort Worth-based Oneworld alliance member plans to begin flights between Miami and Porto Alegre with a stop in Curitiba on 19 December, pending approval from the US Department of Transportation (DOT). It would operate the service on a 225-seat Boeing 767-300ER, according to its application on 12 July.

American is expected to receive approval for the new flights as the DOT has more than seven restricted - they cannot be used for service to either Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo - US-Brazil frequencies available.

The carrier does not serve either city and no airlines fly between either Curitiba or Porto Alegre and Miami, Innovata schedules show.

American received DOT approval for a new daily flight between Los Angeles and Sao Paulo Guarulhos on 8 July. The service will be operated by a 247-seat Boeing 777-200 from 21 November.

The proposed Curitiba and Porto Alegre service comes as the airline has been steadily increasing capacity to Brazil. Available seat kilometres are up nearly a third to 738 million since July 2012 and 4.7% year-to-date, according to Innovata FlightMaps Analytics.

However, the new flights are understood to be taking a toll on unit revenues. Competitor TAM cited new service between Brazil and the USA for declines in passenger yields on the routes in its first quarter earnings this year.